Rebirth in the 1970s: Refusing to Be a Side Character

Chapter 54: He Chengjun's Lame Leg

◎ A Warning: Stay Away from My Wife ◎

In the aftermath of the intense confrontation, Lu Jinzhou's focus shifted to his recovery while Wang Deshan handled the rest. The bearded man, having attempted a hasty escape, was gunned down by the special forces just as he was about to board the helicopter. Xu Wenli and others, unable to withstand the rigorous interrogation methods, confessed and led the authorities to her superior, Lü Zhihai.

The investigation unraveled a long list of covert agents hidden in Lingnan. With this, the enemy forces in the region were thoroughly eradicated. For those outside the province, further investigations would be required, but confidence remained high that ultimate victory was assured.

Xu Wenli's fate was sealed with a firing squad. Her backstory was tragic—she was the child of He Juanhua and a foreign national. He Juanhua was deceived into working for the enemy, giving birth to Xu Wenli, who was secretly groomed as an operative. When her handler was recalled to their homeland, he left behind He Juanhua and her daughter, passing them to Lü Zhihai, who continued to exploit them for intelligence.

Ironically, just before her execution, Xu Wenli still clung to the hope of reuniting with her father, believing the lies she had been fed. Unbeknownst to her, her father had long since moved on with a new family and had no further regard for her.

Though Xu Wenli was a victim of her circumstances, her actions in betraying her country and people were unforgivable. Dong Jiaojiao, having been betrayed and endangered by Xu Wenli, had no intention of meeting her. After Xu Wenli's decision to abduct her, any sense of sisterhood had been irrevocably severed.

It was puzzling to Dong Jiaojiao why many wanted to see her before their deaths. Perhaps, they thought her presence could absolve them of their sins. However, Dong Jiaojiao held firm that she would not compromise her principles for those who had wronged her.

Finally, on the eve of the Lantern Festival, Lu Jinzhou was discharged from the hospital. The couple celebrated a joyous Lantern Festival with a gathering of friends and family, including Wang Cuihua's family from the military district, Li Xiang, Chen Xueming, Xiao Hei, Deng Weidong, and Lin Xiaoqiang.

Chen Yuanjiang, now on excellent terms with Lu Jinzhou, also attended. Their camaraderie seemed to be a testament to the magnetic pull between talented individuals.

Post-festival, Dong Jiaojiao prepared to start university. On her first day, Lu Jinzhou went above and beyond, handling everything for her and ensuring she didn't lift a finger. Using his position as a physics professor, he secured a faculty apartment for her, moving her belongings there.

Given Dong Jiaojiao's pregnancy, living in a faculty apartment was indeed more convenient than a student dormitory. The apartment, which was spacious with two bedrooms and two living rooms, was located within the university, making it ideal for both study and prenatal care.

The university admissions for this year were notably diverse, with candidates ranging from 18 to 40 years old. Among them were former workers, intellectual youth, and even married individuals like Dong Jiaojiao, who attended classes while pregnant. This was not uncommon, and everyone had grown accustomed to such scenarios.

Dong Jiaojiao chose a less common major—Biological Science, with only one class of thirty-two students this year. To align with her field of study, Lu Jinzhou established a seed laboratory that, while related to her major, allowed him to serve as its current head. This setup helped avoid undue suspicion when Dong Jiaojiao occasionally used high-quality produce from her space.

Lu Jinzhou advised her to keep the space's products private, using only modified seeds in external experiments, which proved to be beneficial.

The local agricultural department took interest and sought collaboration with Lu Jinzhou, who agreed to provide seed research to aid farmers. This not only supported local agriculture but also helped cover for Dong Jiaojiao.